Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has picked up two coveted Travelplus Awards for its unique ‘Inspired by Sougha’ amenity bags and its new all-natural First Class COCO-MAT bedding.

The airline won the
awards for ‘Ethically Sustainable Amenity Kit’ and ‘In-Flight Amenity-Gift’ at
the annual Travelplus gala awards ceremony held yesterday in Hamburg.

The Airline Amenity
Bag Awards 2013 celebrate the best onboard comfort and hospitality products in
the airline industry, and the innovation, creativity and design of both the
airlines and their onboard suppliers.

Over 120 submissions and entries in 20
categories were judged using a strict set of criteria covering trend, pleasure,
luxury, usability and style.

Peter Baumgartner,
Chief Commercial Officer of Etihad Airways, said: “Sougha means ‘a traveller’s
gift’ in Arabic and we introduced our new amenity kits to provide something
uniquely Arabian to our guests, and more importantly, as a way of supporting
and celebrating local Emirati craftsmanship on a global stage.

“To also receive an award for our Diamond First
Class COCO-MAT bedding so soon after we introduced it onboard is a testament to
the high standards of this unique all-natural product. Guest feedback has been
universally positive, and Etihad Airways will continue to place great emphasis
on providing the best sleep in the air.”

Launched in February
this year, the new kits are the result of Etihad Airways’ partnership with
Sougha, a social enterprise initiative launched by the Khalifa Fund for
Enterprise Development, which aims to preserve Emirati traditions and promote
local artisans.

The new amenity bags
are offered in Diamond First, Pearl Business and Coral Economy cabins and
feature patterns of Sadou, a colourful, intricate and centuries-old Abu Dhabi
weaving craft traditionally used on blankets, cushions and Bedouin tents.

Exclusive
COCO-MAT multi-layered mattresses, made from extracts of the Hevea tree, and large
down feather duvets and pillows were introduced in the airline’s Diamond First
Class suites in March of this year. Etihad Airways is the only airline to offer
this bespoke product onboard.

Athens-based COCO-MAT is widely considered the world’s
leading manufacturer of sustainably sourced sleep products.